Upcoming Events: “The Wall” Folk Style

So you thought you might like to go to the show?

Pink Floyd’s rock-opera masterpiece “The Wall” was—and still is—considered the stuff of legends, and since its release in 1979, it has guaranteed those four English geniuses a place in the world’s memory. Sure, “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here” have their respective places at the forefront of any classic rock timeline, but ask almost anybody older than age 14 if they’ve ever heard “Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2” and it’s a safe bet that the answer will be yes.



The double album blends beauty with intensity for a potent outcome that has scarcely been matched to date. In its inexplicable delicacy, “The Wall” seems a perfect candidate for intricate reinvention, and that’s just the way a gaggle of Portland folk artists saw it:

First on the list are Jenny Conlee and Chris Funk, long time members of The Decemberists that have recently been working hard on their side project Black Prairie—along with fellow Decemberist Nate Query. Together, these two are incredibly talented and tight-knit musicians that truly know how bone-chilling folk music is supposed to sound. After all, there’s nothing like an accordion and six string combo to get a musical connection flowing.

Next up is a trio of dudes that clearly value the classics. Sneakin’ Out can often be found doing live covers of the Stones, Floyd and the Beatles. They’ve got it down well, putting their own rockin’ spin on things but still keeping the strings tightly wound. Strong folk undertones certainly grace Sneakin’ Out’s style, and so a nice balance can be kept while walking the fine line between folk rock and classic rock.

Twisted Whistle exemplifies bluegrass in such a raw, rootsy way that it’s not all that hard to get lost in the entire ensemble. They’re not afraid to get dancy—drawing from all kinds of different influences to create a potpourri of flavors—and a raw, high-energy sound is the result. The genre is such that each instrument has to be tight with those surrounding it in order to make the sound complete, but Twisted Whistle seem to have figured out a way to take perfection and make it rugged. Being rough around the edges, after all, could very well be considered the essence of bluegrass, and these guys just about sum it up.

(Dave Gerow, to whom the "Wall" project can be credited is both a member of Twisted Whistle and Sneakin' Out)

Multi-instrumentalist Lewi Longmire has served up his talent with the likes of, well, pretty much everyone; playing with Casey Neill, the Minus 5, the Freak Mountain Ramblers and others has aided him in garnering attention while developing a style all of his own. Since then, he’s been working on his own music with his own band, a group with deep set roots and a great sense of what Americana is all about—having tight, high energy musical fun.

The Water Tower Bucket Boys are a group of upstanding young men to whom music has become a great passion. With music degrees among them, a lifetime of musical experience, and a whole lot of talent, these dudes work perfectly together to show off a masterful grasp of arrangement and lyricism. These are some of the best buskers you could hope to hear, and when moved to the stage their harmonies and instrumentation only tend to sound better.



All of these awesome musicians have recently set to work pulling (and plucking) strings for a summer project that aims to recreate Pink Floyd’s masterpiece with a folk twist. Sitting down with Kenny Feinstein of Water Tower Bucket Boys—the project's organizer—I was enlightened as to his hopes and aspirations for the venture, along with a few of its inner workings.

Producing a small business card for a temporary wall manufacturer out of Portland, Feinstein told me that he would like for the entire thing to be as Floyd-esque as possible, while still keeping things unique and fresh. Thus, the breaking down of a temporary wall during the concert’s finale would be a significant moment for the show. Along with this, full versions of “Dark Side of the Moon” and the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” can be expected as openers before the main event.

There is much work to be done before the summer dates—July 29 and (tentatively) August 13—and fundraising for the event is a must. Currently the total cost is forecast at $2800, including advertising, venue rental, rehearsal costs, and pay for the musicians involved. The eventual goal—as noted on the event’s Kickstarter—is $3800, though with few pledges to date the pace needs to be picked up in order for the project to continue.

This event, should it come to be, could quickly become one of the things for Portlanders to look forward to this summer. “The Wall,” “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Sgt. Peppers” are all incredible albums that have garnered mass followings respectively since their original releases, and so we’ll leave it in the hands of some great folkers to bring them back to the forefront of our minds once again.

Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” with a Folk Twist is set for July 29, 2011 at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland, with a second show tentatively set for August 13 at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

More information regarding the event, or to pledge HERE

www.watertowerbucketboys.com
www.sneakinout.com
www.lewilongmire.com
www.blackprairie.com
www.twistedwhistle.com

Refreshed

Black Prairie makes for a nice change of pace

The Decemberists have been around for some time now, and after lapsing into a strange, riff-based alt-rock orchestra, it’s been nice to hear something fresh emerging as a side project. Black Prairie is raw, ballsy and awesome. The project essentially came to be as a brainchild born to Chris Funk and Nate Query—The Decemberists’ respective guitarist and bassist—while on tour with the Colin Meloy’s Portland powerhouse. Jenny Conlee’s skills as the Decemberists’ accordion and piano player were soon employed and the three began work on Black Prairie.



While intricate instrumentation is the project’s primary direction, excellent refrains and lyricism still pad out the tracks on Feast of the Hunters' Moon. It’s often hard to find complaints for good, wholesome Americana music, and Black Prairie has preserved this fact (at least for me). When a sinister feel strikes the music and makes my bones shiver—a feeling for which I have gained quite a fondness—I’m reminded of why I loved the Decemberists, and why I continue to love the crazy side projects that it has helped spawn.

Check out Black Prairie’s Feast of the Hunters' Moon.
Also check out The Norway Rats for more Jenny Conlee action.

I've been writing over at Natural Beardy lately, this post and others can be found there.

Promiscuous Cyclops Blink

Considering the three Eugene rockers that make up Dirty Wink formed for a one-time gig at a Halloween party, it’s safe to say that they’ve made a beautiful mountain out of a molehill. If it’s possible to imagine Sublime jamming with Lenny Kravitz and Silversun Pickups then I guess you should go ahead and imagine it — that seems to be what these guys did.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Whoa, that sounds nuts!”

I know, right? But it’s the hybrid quality of Dirty Wink’s sound that makes this shit fun. The best part is that they’re really not trying to be anything other than what they are; all of them have the same basic taste in music, but each adds their own unique flavor to make the sound whole.


[Greatest band Photo known to man]

Their first full length is set to release — a wonderful milestone considering they’ve mainly been rocking house shows and bars up until now — and the album is just what you would expect. The production is sound and the songs flow well. At times I’ve found myself getting lost in the music entirely, with the gaps in between songs as nothing more than blips between the rock.

These guys are set to become a local powerhouse, so look out, Eugene.

Dirty Wink’s CD release party with Kingdom County and Blast Majesty is at 10 pm on Friday, Dec. 17 at Luckey’s. 21+. $5

EW 12/16

Lie Easy in the Shade

There’s something oddly haunting about Casey Neill & The Norway Rats. When considering the song titles on Neill’s ninth album — Goodbye to the Rank and File — it might seem strange that tracks called “When I Came to You,” or “Radio Montana” could be considered haunting, but that’s just it: Casey Neill’s music isn’t designed predictably. Looking at a song title isn’t going to help you learn the words to his choruses, nor will it yield any results for your subject matter expectations. In fact, the only way to really understand what this guy’s all about is to listen through every song with your ears wide open and ready to receive. Along the way, you’ll probably end up figuring out a lot more about Casey Neill than you expected. His ballads are poignant, and his lyrics hold the kind of weight that indicates he’s singing nothing but personal truths.



The Norway Rats, who have been working their way towards becoming a fully fledged collective for some time, have finally been able to spread their wings with Rank and File. Featuring performers from The Minus 5, The Decemberists and Lucinda Williams’ band, the Norway Rats allow the entire project to tie itself up with a bow. The twinge of country in Casey Neill’s voice, those beautiful lyrics and the Rats’ clean instrumentation on Rank and File add up to make this tour all the more appealing. Neill sums it up perfectly, as usual, with lyrics: “My work here is done.”

Casey Neill & The Norway Rats and Ezra Holbrook play at 9 pm Thursday, Nov. 11, at Sam Bond’s Garage. 21+. $5.

EW 11/11

Best of Eugene Winners!

Well, everyone voted, here's a few of the people and places that won:


Eugene Weekly Cover 11/4

Best Band - Medium Troy

Nobody describes Medium Troy’s sound better than the band itself: “A nasally white dude with catchy hooks and sick beats,” says the band’s MySpace. This pretty much sums it up. Those beats are liquid, golden and epic, and the instrumental segments of the group’s show will either have you standing in awe or kickin’ back and nodding your head. The guys throw down some sweet rhymes, get silly, jam out and overall just blow minds. Their shows have a tendency to sell out around here, probably because the mixture of hip-hop, dub, reggae and all those other genres is about as strong as the grass in their songs: “I think I’ll smoke a bowl / that’s just the way I roll / I rock pajamas ’cause they’re oh so much more comfortable.” Well, guys, you’ve been voted best band two years in a row now, and we’re pretty comfortable with that. Visit them HERE


Best Solo Musical Performer - Jesse Meade

Photo from Jesse's website (link below)

Oh, how that voice strums our heartstrings! Jesse Meade has long impressed crowds in our town (and a lot of other places) with his wondrous noodling and beautiful singing. Meade is both unforgettably mellow and a powerful performer who keeps the audience glued to the stage. He could be compared to Jack Johnson, or Joe Purdy, or whomever; but who cares whom he sounds like? He is Jesse Meade, and Eugene thinks he rocks. Visit him HERE


Best Hangover Breakfast - Brails

Brails has been the accepted hangover breakfast spot in Eugene for some time now, and as a result, the place is adorned with plaques, signs and newspaper clippings that boast of their ability to make our crapulous mornings bite the dust. There’s a reason for this: Counting the times that we’ve craved some wholesome greasy spoon action the morning after is a near impossible task, and Brails is always right there waiting to satisfy our desires. Prices are cheap, coffee is bottomless and the service is quick. If you’re in need of a place to help you walk straight, clear the thunderstorm in your head and de-fog your eyes, Brails is without a doubt Eugene’s best.


Best Barista - Thomas Howard, Wandering Goat Coffee Company

Thomas Howard has been working as a barista for the Wandering Goat Coffee Company for just over three years now, and in that time he has managed to gain the respect of customers across the city. Relaxed, refreshing and clearly enjoying the atmosphere of the shop, he’s always down to slide a steamer in your direction. “I love it,” he says. “They treat me well.” Well, Thomas, you’ve been treating us well for a few years now, and our hats are off to you.


Best Breakfast - The Glenwood

Delicious food is on the horizon if you’re on the prowl for some good eats in the morning — or, for that matter, any time of the day — because Glenwood is calling your name. The Eugene legend has two locations — campus and Willamette — monster plates of grub, relaxing atmosphere and fair prices. Don’t be disheartened if the place is packed; not only is this a sure sign that the food is good, but it won’t be too long a wait with the fast and friendly service. When hunger pangs strike on a lazy Sunday morning, the Glenwood is the place to go.


Best BBQ - Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen & Blues Joint


Photo from the Eugene Saturday Market Blog

Where else? Papa’s Soul Food has long been our favorite: that fancy menu, those excellent prices, the complete and utter comfort that can be found in filling our bellies with cornbread, hush puppies and perfectly barbecued meat. We recommend being adventurous; try your best to do the entire menu over the course of your life. From catfish and oysters to fried chicken and pulled pork, there really isn’t a dish not worth trying. Great atmosphere, great food and great times: It’s not hard to see why y’all love it.


Oh, and here's my favorite thing that someone wrote on the ballot:

Best Way To Improve Eugene
If we could get a unicorn, that would be nice.

EW 11/4
Congratulations to all!
There's like a billion other categories HERE

Sweet As Melons

What do you get when you cross a blue-collar girl, a pin up model, a sex activist and a powerful-yet-dainty blues voice? Why, Candye Kane, of course. Since first making her name in the ’80s with the likes of Social Distortion — among others — she’s been causing a riot everywhere she treads. Seriously, every group you can think of is a fan of this woman: Bikers, punkers, drag queens, strippers, escorts, porn lovers, dancers, musicians, feminists and more form her loyal fan base.



With 10 records out to date, many of which contain top 10 Billboard singles, Kane is truly an inspiration. She sings soulfully on tracks such as “Superhero” and “Misunderstood,” a cool groove that for some reason evokes a young Django Reinhardt dancing burlesque. OK, so that might not sound so sexy, but the truth is this pin-up-girl-mother-of-two-activist-inspirational-blues-singer of a woman can really wail, and that’s all there is to it. Candye Kane plays at Mac’s at the Vet’s at 9:30 pm Wednesday, Nov. 10. 21+. $12 adv., $15 door.

EW 11/4

GRRRLZ ROCK! Festival

The month-long GRRRLZ ROCK! Festival, which pays tribute to all of those fabulous female artists out there, will invade Cozmic Pizza this Saturday for the festival’s fourth stop. The night will feature eight chicks (and groups of chicks) getting down artistically in order to promote and celebrate the growth and participation of women in the
realms of music and arts. Among Saturday’s featured artists will be Gemiinii Riisiing (pictured), a single, awesome female known for her skill when it comes to rocking out. She’s previously found her way (with ease) around Zeppelin and Tool covers—to name a couple—and there’s sure to be more rock in store; also featured will be Sub Pilots, The Refreshments and more. With the price set at $1 or three cans of food, why would anyone want to miss this celebration of grrrlz who rock?

EW 11/4